Hand-held dynamometry: tester strength is paramount, even in frail populations.
Citation:
Stone CA, Nolan B, Lawlor PG, Kenny RA, Hand-held dynamometry: tester strength is paramount, even in frail populations., Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 43, 9, 2011, 808 - 811Download Item:

Abstract:
To determine test-retest and inter-rater reliability of hand-held dynamometry when used to measure knee--extensor strength in patients with advanced cancer.
SUBJECTS:
Adults with metastatic or locally advanced cancer recruited from palliative care services to a study of the risk factors for falls.
METHODS:
Consecutive recruits (n?=?30) underwent repeat testing after an interval of 1 h, by the same researcher, to assess test-retest reliability. The subsequent 15 patients underwent retesting by a second researcher. The intra-class correlation coefficient and limits of agreement were calculated.
RESULTS:
The test-retest reliability difference between measurements increased with the magnitude of measurement, mean leg strength?=?113 N (standard deviation 43.1), 95% ratio limits of agreement 0.81-1.5, intra-class correlation coefficient?=?0.9. The inter-rater testing mean leg strength?=?128.5 N (standard deviation 35.1), 95% limits of agreement?=?-57.24 to 36.06 N. Intra-class correlation coefficient?=?0.83.
CONCLUSION:
Test-retesting and inter-rater testing yielded high intra-class correlation coefficients, but the limits of agreement were wide. In test-retesting, the difference between tests increased as the magnitude of measurement increased. It has been widely reported that hand-held dynamometry is reliable when used to measure knee-extensor strength in frail or elderly persons. However, our results show that, even in these populations, reliability may be compromised by inadequate tester strength.
Author's Homepage:
http://people.tcd.ie/rkennyDescription:
PUBLISHED
Author: KENNY, ROSE ANNE
Type of material:
Journal ArticleCollections:
Series/Report no:
Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine;43;
9;
Availability:
Full text availableKeywords:
Gerontology, hand-held dynamometryLicences: